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Persona 4 Dancing All Night |OT| Aha! Is This Our Dance?

Man, I finished the songs on normal, and experienced a pretty steep learning curve (day 1 patch wasn't out so I couldn't use LR for scratches) and now I'm in hard with the LR patch.

Good god. It is way too hard to play this game and it's bumming me out. Normal has become not exciting enough and hard is killing me. I feel like my eyes are splitting and I'm feeling actual discomfort in my eyes after failing Pursuing My True Self (Shinichi Osawa Remix) about 10 times. I did eventually pass it though.

I don't know... I think this might be the worst implementation of a rhythm game I have experienced. Splitting the notes between both sides is pretty bad. I can't keep up with everything on screen because the notes like to break their clockwise/counterclockwise patterns sometimes and go all over the place. It also feels like some of those notes are designed to get lost in the mess of a screen sometimes.

Also, tying the pass/fail to the health bar is pretty lame. It's the reason I couldn't pass the above song. I had a fine score plenty of times but made some mistakes at the end and couldn't get back into green before the end.

It'd be nice to see a patch to adjust hype penalties on missed notes in Hard.

It's even worse on All Night. One or two misses and I am already falling the song.
Hitting the circles helps a lot regarding the public, but holy hell at some of their positions.

Use mods.

And it's weird to see several complaints about the UI. Are you guys comparing this to Project Diva f—P4D's closest analog—where the notes literally appear all over the screen with no rules associated with them, and are sometimes even created to intentionally misdirect and confuse the player?

PDF isn't even bad. Most of the songs will have the next note near each other. You don't need to search it and the note won't appear suddenly on the other side of the screen.

They do some tricks to throw you off, but either you get surprised once or you can just see the note trajectory (notes next to each other follow each other really close).The timer in the notes also helps if you don't know where they are coming from.

Project Diva was my second rhythm game ever and I had less issue with it's UI than I had with P4D.

The biggest problem to me is that the yellow notes and circles blends with the background. I have no issue with double and hold, but the regular notes should have been red or any other color but yellow.
 
PDF isn't even bad. Most of the songs will have the next note near each other. You don't need to search it and the note won't appear suddenly on the other side of the screen.

They do some tricks to throw you off, but either you get surprised once or you can just see the note trajectory (notes next to each other follow each other really close).The timer in the notes also helps if you don't know where they are coming from.

The thing about P4D's UI is that I can immediately tell where I have to hit a note based on its trajectory and where it appears. Project Diva operates differently in that the inputs are the notes themselves, and that becomes confusing real quick when a bunch get mashed together.

And I think you're understating just how deceptive Project Diva can become with its note charts on Extreme. I haven't played the sequel, but it likes to do stuff like have 2 notes go into 1 input, or make repeating note cycles using static inputs that don't disappear when they are hit. That kind of stuff gets real confusing at times, and the notes do tend to jump around rather significantly at times.

The biggest problem to me is that the yellow notes and circles blends with the background. I have no issue with double and hold, but the regular notes should have been red or any other color but yellow.

You can dim the background in the options menu, but I guess the issue is that one shouldn't need to do that. I personally had no issue seeing the notes, but I did have an issue seeing the Scratch Notes at first.
 
The thing about P4D's UI is that I can immediately tell where I have to hit a note based on its trajectory and where it appears. Project Diva operates differently in that the inputs are the notes themselves, and that becomes confusing real quick when a bunch get mashed together.

And I think you're understating just how deceptive Project Diva can become with its note charts on Extreme. I haven't played the sequel, but it likes to do stuff like have 2 notes go into 1 input, or make repeating note cycles using static inputs that don't disappear when they are hit. That kind of stuff gets real confusing at times, and the notes do tend to jump around rather significantly at times.

If you think Project Diva is deceptive, don't go near Project Mirai. I have been playing that one and the notes come out of nowhere really fast, specially when lines change shape.
 
The thing about P4D's UI is that I can immediately tell where I have to hit a note based on its trajectory and where it appears. Project Diva operates differently in that the inputs are the notes themselves, and that becomes confusing real quick when a bunch get mashed together.

And I think you're understating just how deceptive Project Diva can become with its note charts on Extreme. I haven't played the sequel, but it likes to do stuff like have 2 notes go into 1 input, or make repeating note cycles using static inputs that don't disappear when they are hit. That kind of stuff gets real confusing at times, and the notes do tend to jump around rather significantly at times.

I did play all Project Diva games and I am used to the UI, but I had a harder time adapting to P4D. The only moments that completely throw me out in PD games are the hardest songs, where the inputs are really fast. I know where and what they are, but I am not fast enough to press them.

The only one that confuses the hell out of me is Arcade on Extreme. Mostly because in that game you have combination of notes and, yeah, they play to hell and back with this. Throwing combinations of 2 and 3 one after another and I can't know what the hell I should do.

You can dim the background in the options menu, but I guess the issue is that one shouldn't need to do that. I personally had no issue seeing the notes, but I did have an issue seeing the Scratch Notes at first.

I didn't even know you could dim the background lol
Will give it a try and post later.

If you think Project Diva is deceptive, don't go near Project Mirai. I have been playing that one and the notes come out of nowhere really fast, specially when lines change shape.

Wait wat. I thought Mirai was even easier to follow. Which song is giving you trouble ?
 
Good god. It is way too hard to play this game and it's bumming me out. Normal has become not exciting enough and hard is killing me. I feel like my eyes are splitting and I'm feeling actual discomfort in my eyes after failing Pursuing My True Self (Shinichi Osawa Remix) about 10 times. I did eventually pass it though.

It'd be nice to see a patch to adjust hype penalties on missed notes in Hard.

You're just at the rhythm game point where Normal is too easy and Hard is too hard. That's not uncommon when people jump up difficulties in these kinds of games. Eventually you become acclimated and Hard is fine. Then All Night wrecks your shit and then you repeat the process.

If they didn't patch it for the japanese release I doubt they're going to make it easier for us. That difficulty of this game comes from the penalties on misses.

I'd also say the game does a good job of leading the player around the screen. I think it's less deceptive than Project Diva since we're bringing up the game.

Overall, I feel like a lot of qualms from people will get settled after they get use to the game more and when it's not day zero.
 
Yay Best Buy shoved my Disco Fever edition into a box that was too small and it got hella crushed. I usually don't care about the boxes but this one was super nice.
 
I don't have any problems with the UI so far. I prefer it to project diva because notes aren't flying in without me noticing or blending in to the background art. The notes come from only six possible places, so its just a matter of learning to keep track of them at once.
 
Overall, I feel like a lot of qualms from people will get settled after they get use to the game more and when it's not day zero.

I've never had this kind of trouble with a rhythm game before. I think I am going to keep playing, but I'm not having fun anymore :S

I do want to read more story eventually as well.

I'd also say the game does a good job of leading the player around the screen. I think it's less deceptive than Project Diva since we're bringing up the game.

Overall, I feel like a lot of qualms from people will get settled after they get use to the game more and when it's not day zero.

It does have a "follow clockwise/counterclockwise" rule but tends to break it, and with penalties being as tough as they are, it becomes a drag real quick. I mean, I can lose one note, then get caught up in what happened, miss a few more and suddenly I can't clear the song anymore. It's not even an issue of failing before the end, but being unable to bring the hype back up (though I have failed a few songs on Hard).
 
Dance Instructor is best new character
 
It does have a "follow clockwise/counterclockwise" rule but tends to break it, and with penalties being as tough as they are, it becomes a drag real quick. I mean, I can lose one note, then get caught up in what happened, miss a few more and suddenly I can't clear the song anymore. It's not even an issue of failing before the end, but being unable to bring the hype back up.

Have you adjusted note speed? Have you adjusted the background brightness? Have you enabled the "Macho Momentum" mod? How about the "The Slow Life" mod? How much of the game have you played?

There are means to adjust the game that it doesn't sound like you've tried.
 
This happened to me too. :(

It's taken over an hour and half to download this day one patch. Ugh.

Damn,best buy dropped the ball. After trying to pick mine up and was told that it would arrive in a couple of weeks
Lolwut,that's the point of preordering
I went to another best buy that had about 12 DFE in stock so I grabbed one and headed to the checkout. The game was in one of those protective cases and upon inspecting it, I noticed the box inside was crushed to shit so I went to grab another one. Would have been pissed if I didn't notice that until getting home.

Anyways,if there's anyone looking to grab the disco fever edition, I don't mind picking up a copy and shipping it to you. I'm surprised there were that many copies of it available.
 
Have you adjusted note speed? Have you adjusted the background brightness? Have you enabled the "Macho Momentum" mod? How about the "The Slow Life" mod? How much of the game have you played?

There are means to adjust the game that it doesn't sound like you've tried.

You are right, I haven't tried. As for how much I've played, I have cleared all the songs that are available without story mode on Normal, and like, two on Hard.

I'll give the background brightness a shot. I don't feel like that is my problem, but who knows.

As for mods, are those the items? The ones you by every time? Or are they elsewhere?

I'm the kind of person who plays everything in a rhythm game vanilla as possible and I lose interest if I need handicaps. Just how I am, so I'm not sure I'd use mods.

I'll look at what they actually are next time I play though.
 
Several freebies up on the store right now. Some tracks and outfits. And of course the usual Atlus tax for some other alternate outfits.
 
For what it's worth, I just switched to using the L/R buttons for scratches and instantly improved once I got the hang of it.

I still can't get used to the L/R buttons for scratches after all this time. Do you alternate or just use one of them? I always instinctively go for the analog sticks, then hesitate, and then mess up because of that.

As for mods, are those the items? The ones you by every time? Or are they elsewhere?

I'm the kind of person who plays everything in a rhythm game vanilla as possible and I lose interest if I need handicaps. Just how I am, so I'm not sure I'd use mods.

I'll look at what they actually are next time I play though.

Playing things vanilla is pointless when P4D offers plenty of options to customize the game to one's tastes. Power Ups and Game Settings adjust certain elements during gameplay, with the former reducing your score and P$ at the end of a song and the latter doing the opposite. Yes, they are the items purchased in the in-game shop. They are a fundamental element to Persona 4: Dancing All Night. I would not have as much fun as I am with the game if I didn't have the "Macho Momentum" mod enabled.

It's weird that so many people seem to just be glossing over the two option menus when there are some pretty neat things to adjust in there.
 
Played the de de mouse remix. I do not like it at all.

I still can't get used to the L/R buttons for scratches after all this time. Do you alternate or just use one of them? I always instinctively go for the analog sticks, then hesitate, and then mess up because of that.

Playing things vanilla is pointless when P4D offers plenty of options to customize the game to one's tastes. Power Ups and Game Settings adjust certain elements during gameplay, with the former reducing your score and P$ at the end of a song and the latter doing the opposite. Yes, they are the items purchased in the in-game shop. They are a fundamental element to Persona 4: Dancing All Night. I would not have as much fun as I am with the game if I didn't have the "Macho Momentum" mod enabled.

It's weird that so many people seem to just be glossing over the two option menus when there are some pretty neat things to adjust in there.
I was able to adapt to the L/R after taking a little break from the game. When the patch first hit I had a hard time since I'd still go to the sticks on instinct, but the feeling has passed after enough time of getting used to it. I also just hit R and never hit L.

I feel bad for the people who don't look at the mods considering how much the mix it up. Hell, one adds +50% money for clearing a song and has no downside even. I should also probably try getting use to macho momentum at some point, but I don't want to get over that hurdle right now.
How do you turn on L and R for scratches? Is it in the option menu?

Options from the main menu.
 
Huh. I've played a lot of rhythm games but I've never had one feel this... strange off the bat. Kind of like getting punched in the face lol, not really feeling the way everything is laid out. I didn't want them to just do a carbon copy of PDF but this seems a little hard to track. I guess I'll get used to it.
 
Two things:

a) For the love of god turn down the background brightness to a managable level. It's the single worst thing eyestrain wise.

b) It's actually pretty easy to follow the beatmap once you realise it's all down to your sense of timing and rhythm. By hard you should only be sightreading the first two or three times you run a course. The rest of the time they're just reminders of the note pattern coming up. They're also mostly designed you can just roll your eyes around the screen counterclockwise most of the time.

I never ended up using L/R for disc spinning, it's so much cooler to use the sticks. The thing I hate though is that they don't consistently make the same sound.
 
Playing things vanilla is pointless when P4D offers plenty of options to customize the game to one's tastes. Power Ups and Game Settings adjust certain elements during gameplay, with the former reducing your score and P$ at the end of a song and the latter doing the opposite. They are a fundamental element to Persona 4: Dancing All Night. I would not have as much fun as I am with the game if I didn't have the "Macho Momentum" mod enabled.

It's weird that so many people seem to just be glossing over the two option menus when there are some pretty neat things to adjust in there.

I actually went into the main options menu immediately on startup, as I do with all games. Musta missed the mods in there, and legit didn't care about the brightness. Never would have thought to change that if I wasn't told it had an actual effect. I also found myself hunting for an LR switch before the patch came out and wondered to myself how the hell that wasn't an option.

As for playing vanilla, I am very stubborn about that kind of thing. I often have trouble finding the drive to complete a "challenge" if I am not doing it the way "the game intends it". I also fully understand the irrationality one might feel towards that kind of thinking. As for this specific case, it just feels like the game is poorly designed (going back to the health bar being a fail condition if it isn't 3/5th full at the end of the song), and the mixture of physical pain that is keeping me down.

Only reason I don't want to quit is cause I like all the Persona stuff surrounding the actual gameplay.

Who knows, once I mess with these mods I could completely change my tune, but past experience tells me I won't much like the idea.
 
I still can't get used to the L/R buttons for scratches after all this time. Do you alternate or just use one of them? I always instinctively go for the analog sticks, then hesitate, and then mess up because of that.

I started off playing with the sticks and doing scratches on hard mode was impossible. I switched to L/R, but like you said it's weird using them after using the sticks for a while.

So what I did was simply play a bunch of songs on normal with L/R to get used to it. For me it's easier because I don't have to move my hand positioning.

As for the alternating question, currently with the songs I have unlocked I haven't had the need to alternate triggers. Although I'm practicing with both because I feel like I might need to alternate when I get to All Night.
 
i'm king crazying songs on all night with sticks you guys

look at me

stiiiiicksssssssssss



Anyway, regarding the UI, I actually think it's fine once you dim the BG. I'm more miffed there's no instant practice mode like in Guitar Hero or Rock Band (though I realise that's not really what these games are about) so I can't just practice a tricky section or try and work out how it goes...
 
"boy trail"
"noble stag"

So, I just finished P4G last night, and while I'm a huge fan of Rise's VA...I actually do not have a problem with new Rise. I mean, would I have preferred it to be Laura Bailey, but I think new Rise is alright.

You can basically qualify this as my first dancing game and my first graphic visual novel game as well. It feels good to be with the whole team, and the writing seems to fit them so far. There are long ass stretches of text and so far there has only been one dance, but I feel like that's what free play mode is for.

I'm on easy mode, and so far my Dance Central and DDR skills are translating ok to my fingers. However, it kind of sucks that I can;t focus on what is probably some cool dance moves in the background.

Speaking of which, how awesome would it be if Harmonix made a P4 dance central type game? Would get a new Kinect for that shit.

One question: Can you quit at any point after the saving icon pops up and then jump back to that point later?
 
Kanamin is a lovable ditz. Who was that guy in PersonaGAF that made all those Persona for NPCs? I would like to request one for Kanami.
 
As a complete rhythm game noob, even Easy is challenging to me, lol. I don't fail but man do I miss notes. The "unision" notes are the hardest. Still, I'm really digging it.

BTW, anybody know what they are saying on the Main Menu? Sounds like "Baby girl feel the light" or something?
 
As a complete rhythm game noob, even Easy is challenging to me, lol. I don't fail but man do I miss notes. The "unision" notes are the hardest. Still, I'm really digging it.

BTW, anybody know what they are saying on the Main Menu? Sounds like "Baby girl feel the light" or something?

Come On Baby Feel the Vibe
 
This may seem like a dumb question, and totally unrelated, but should I get around to playing the story for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax before I play this?

I played the first Arena when it came out, and really enjoyed the story in that, but just for some reason never got around to Ultimax. I doubt they're that closely related, but considering it probably takes place before this game, (or does it?) just wondering if I should?
 
This game is making my eyes hurt but I'm really enjoying it this far. Got my first King Crazy and everything. Though I wish there were more songs, granted I haven't beaten Story Mode yet.

Nanako has THE best songs tbh.
 
The patch is half a gig? Ugh, Atlus. I buy physical for a reason!
 
Playing with L/R is much better than analog sticks. Didn't miss a note in my favorite songs.

And I my the only one liking these songs:

Maze of Life
Time to make history (both remix and original)
Dance!
Best Friends (both versions)
Backside of the TV

Backside and Maze are two favorites of mine and I haven't seen a single comment about them D=

This may seem like a dumb question, and totally unrelated, but should I get around to playing the story for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax before I play this?

I played the first Arena when it came out, and really enjoyed the story in that, but just for some reason never got around to Ultimax. I doubt they're that closely related, but considering it probably takes place before this game, (or does it?) just wondering if I should?

Nope, I haven't gone through Ultimax story either and I haven't noticed any mention to it's story or Arena's. Just the original game.
 
Playing with L/R is much better than analog sticks. Didn't miss a note in my favorite songs.

And I my the only one liking these songs:

Maze of Life
Time to make history (both remix and original)
Dance!
Best Friends (both versions)
Backside of the TV

Backside and Maze are two favorites of mine and I haven't seen a single comment about them D=

all amazing songs.

damn all these people talking about the game make me want to go back home and play it right now :T
 
Can someone with the all the Custom menu options unlocked post a screenshot of them for me? I have the Japanese version and I have no idea what some of them are. Having a visual reference would be great.
 
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